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Types of Birth Injury
During the process of labor and delivery, babies can suffer various types of injuries, including:
- Brain damage
- Brain bleeding
- Brain swelling
- Cerebral Palsy
- Brachial Plexus Palsy (Erb’s Palsy)
- Facial paralysis
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), which is an injury to the brain resulting from oxygen deprivation
- Skull fractures or brain trauma
Birth injuries caused by medical malpractice can occur due to different factors, potentially leading to irreversible brain damage. For instance, brain injuries may result from a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) to the baby’s brain during childbirth. Often, this occurs because the obstetrician or nursing staff fails to promptly recognize signs of fetal distress. Asphyxia, or oxygen deprivation to the brain, can cause lifelong disabilities and challenges. Typically, when a baby displays indications or evidence of asphyxia, also known as birth depression, it can be easily treated after birth with brain stimulation, making significant brain injuries rare.
Certain conditions increase the risk of severe hypoxia or asphyxia during birth, including:
- Uterine rupture
- Prolapse of the umbilical cord during delivery
- Separation of the placenta before delivery
- Pressure or compression on the umbilical cord during and after delivery
These conditions present potential emergency situations that often require the baby to be delivered promptly through an emergency Cesarean section. Given the critical nature of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain, emergency Cesarean sections typically need to be performed within 15-20 minutes or less from the decision to incision, reducing the chances of significant brain injury compared to the average time span of around 30 minutes.
Tragically, many babies do not fully recover from preventable brain injuries sustained during labor and delivery and face a lifetime of complex medical care. In such cases, you may have the option to file a personal injury claim to secure the necessary medical care for your child and obtain compensation for the challenges of caring for a brain-injured child.
At ACTS Law, our legal team possesses extensive experience and a strong track record of advocating for victims of obstetric negligence, including children who have suffered injuries due to such negligence. We are dedicated to achieving maximum recoveries, settlements, and verdicts for our deserving clients. We are here to assist you!
Contact Bruce Brusavich and Eduardo J. Ascencio if you believe you have been a victim of a birth injury or medical malpractice. With nearly 70 years of combined experience, our team of lawyers is ready to provide the help you deserve.